Re: [LEAPSECS] Risks of change to UTC

From: James Maynard <james.h.maynard_at_USA.NET>
Date: Fri, 20 Jan 2006 21:33:50 -0800

M. Warner Losh wrote:
> In message: <43D1650B.1000301_at_usa.net>
> James Maynard <james.h.maynard_at_USA.NET> writes:
> : M. Warner Losh wrote:
> : > In message: <43D15F4C.5_at_usa.net>
> : > James Maynard <james.h.maynard_at_USA.NET> writes:
> : > : ones position using sight reduction tables. Today a mechanical watch or
> : > : chronometer, or a battery-powered wristwatch, can be set to UTC using
> : > : radio time signals. Then when power fails, the sailor still has a
> : > : reasonably accurate spprodximation to UT1 available.
> : >
> : > If DUT1 is broadcast, then one can set the time keeping device to UT1
> : > by a means similar to setting it to UTC, even if DUT1 exceeds 0.9s
> : > with a similar accuacy (or better). There's nothing that says a watch
> : > has to display UTC to be set correctly.
> : >
> : > Warner
> : >
> : > .
> : >
> : And how is DUT1 to be broadcast in a language-independent manner? That
> : protocol needs to be established well in advance.
>
> It already is being broadcast in, eg, WWV.
>
> Warner
>
>
>
But the protocol for broadcasting DUT1 in, e.g., WWV, does not provide
for DUT1 values of more than plus or minus 0.9 s. The value of DUT1
could be announced by voice message -- but that would not be
language-independent. If I travel to asia in my boat, I will not be
able to benefit from DUT1 announcemnts in Japanese from JJY or in
Chinese from BPM (or whatever their standard time and frequency station
is). An longwave broadcasts such as those from WWVB do not have voice
modulation at all!

--
James Maynard
Salem, Oregon, USA
Received on Fri Jan 20 2006 - 21:34:14 PST

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